Gee only after 1 year, the 40D is history? I guess Canon needs to fight back from the heavy hits of the D3/300 and its own issues with the 1D series.
I guess Photokina is going have a few more surprises.

Drew
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."

"I was born not knowing, and have only had a little time to change that here and there.

Grrr, I was just about to buy a 5d and housing and then canon go and spring this on me , decisions decisions.

On a serious note though the increased dynamic range of the camera coupled with the extra pixels does make it a fantastic piece of kit. It looks like they are basically upgrading everything from their 1 series bodies (let's just hope they don't use the same focusing system!!)

Grrr, I was just about to buy a 5d and housing and then canon go and spring this on me , decisions decisions.

On a serious note though the increased dynamic range of the camera coupled with the extra pixels does make it a fantastic piece of kit. It looks like they are basically upgrading everything from their 1 series bodies (let's just hope they don't use the same focusing system!!)

The 5d is still a better camera. Realistically, I never shoot much above 400 ISO, and the 5d being full frame is WAY better than the 2 extra MP you get.

The 5d is still a better camera. Realistically, I never shoot much above 400 ISO, and the 5d being full frame is WAY better than the 2 extra MP you get.

It will be interesting to see if you are right. The specs would indicate that it may provide similar noise performance and dynamic range, and higher resolution than the 5D.This is certainly a D300 killer at the price especially.

Refreshed user interfaceCourtesy of DIGIC 4, the EOS 50D's interface has not only been given a stylish redesign; it's now got some very cool 'fades' between menu items

and

Building on the info panel seen on the EOS 40D; you can now control everything on the screen using the joystick controller (taking a leaf out of Olympus and Sony's book).

The way I interpret this statement, it could be a big problem for underwater photographers. If the only way to can navigate the menus with the joystick, underwater photographers will be effectively locked out of the menus. I hope they mean you can navigate the menus with the joystick in addition to the traditional way with the wheels.

Ah! And just as I said I never will need or use such high ISO adn will not be upgrading for another year - I was sent on a job involving shooting seaturles (on land) at night (no flash allowed)... so now I an lusting for this one. Must find out if it will fit in 40D housing!

The way I interpret this statement, it could be a big problem for underwater photographers. If the only way to can navigate the menus with the joystick, underwater photographers will be effectively locked out of the menus. I hope they mean you can navigate the menus with the joystick in addition to the traditional way with the wheels.

According to the DPReview hands on report you can use the multi-selector (joystick) or the front and rear dials(same as 40D):

The structure of the EOS 50D menus is essentially the same as on the predecessor but the design has been slightly freshened up and now features a neat fading effect. Other than that the menus have a tabbed multi-page layout which is consistent with their EOS-1D professional cameras. You navigate pages using the multi-selector or main dial and use the quick control dial or multi-selector to move up and down options, press SET to change.

I just purchased a 40d and will be buying the housing soon,i was intending to buy a backup body later next year maybe,but if the 50d will fit ,it will be so cool,will be able get a backup and an upgrade at the same time and still us the same housing ,how often does that happen,when was the last time you were able to use 2 models in the same housing, we hope

The 50D's body is identical in size, shape and control layout to the EOS 40D, and nearly identical in appearance: a silver bezel atop the mode dial, a "D+" icon on the top LCD and in the viewfinder (indicating when Highlight Tone Priority is enabled), a Type C HDMI video port on the side and of course an EOS 50D name badge on the front are about the only visual differences when you glance at the camera or peer through its viewfinder.

Except that you can't get live view which need the push to print button. I think that's the storyBill

If only we could get Canon to do a simple firmware upgrade this issue could easily be overcome. All that is required is to assign a custom funtion to the SET button to start Live View. Then it will be exactly the same as the 40D. Custum function IV-3 allready gives you various options for the SET button but unfortunately not to Live View. Surely that is doable. Any chance that we could lobby Canon for a firmware update??? After all there must be thousands of divers out there that would like to use their 50Ds in 40D housings. Anybody with any influence or ideas????

I am fairly certain I can do it with my Aquatica 40D housing. I have just received my 50D and will give it a work out in Raja Amat this November. However, my experience with the 40D was that the Live View feature was not of much use for my u/w photography and I don't imagine that the 50D will be much better.

If only we could get Canon to do a simple firmware upgrade this issue could easily be overcome. All that is required is to assign a custom funtion to the SET button to start Live View. Then it will be exactly the same as the 40D. Custum function IV-3 allready gives you various options for the SET button but unfortunately not to Live View. Surely that is doable. Any chance that we could lobby Canon for a firmware update??? After all there must be thousands of divers out there that would like to use their 50Ds in 40D housings. Anybody with any influence or ideas????

You are probably right that there are thousands of divers with 40Ds. Unfortunately Canon is interested in millions of cameras, thousands just won't get their attention.